The thoughts of a doula...

We just got this cute little all black, stripped kitten. Yes- he can be all black and have stripes! What a sweet kitty! He is a super good snuggler, totally playful, and exceptionally curious. His favorite activities include licking the touch screen on my laptop, walking on computer keys, and batting at things on the computer screen. Makes working awesome for my husband and myself. But, one thing that he really has an obsession with is, the sink.

Ever since he got little little yellow/orange eyes on the dripping water in the sink he has been truly fascinated! He comes running in whenever anyone is in the bathroom, just to go sit and stare at the water. He will sit and stare forever it seems! Then, he will stick one paw in. Then, go in a little further. Then, before you know it he is standing all the way in the sink, drinking the water at the drain while the water is flowing on his head. It's the funniest thing! It remind me of what many couples do when they consider a birth center birth.

"What? How does that even make sense?" You ask. Well, let me explain. Like my kitty and the sink, many moms and dads-to-be find themselves curious about birth centers and home births when they find out they are expecting. Some come to it because they have family or friends who chose an out-of-hospital birth, and others are curious since they do not feel the hospital is the best place for them. So they go "sniffing around" for other options. Many parents find themselves reading about other options first, just curious about what these options are, but not yet ready to take the plunge- just like my kitty peeking up on top of the counter. Then they may decide to go to open houses at birth centers, meet the midwives, and see if they see themselves there, just like my kitty leaping up on top of the counter and circling the bowl. After that, some may choose to give it a try, and see what appointments are like with a midwife, and ask even more questions- like my kitty sticking his little paw in the stream of water, ever ready to pull it back if it isn't favorable. And then, once couples find the location meets their needs, they are all in- readying for their birth, taking all the classes at the center, and enjoying all the benefits that come from a birth center experience- just like my kitty who sits in the sink while the water runs all over him as he happily laps up water.

Yes, many people do go to birth centers cautiously, but more and more are deciding that the birth center is the right fit for them. While still in the minority, the number of people choosing to have an out-of-hospital birth is increasing due to many personal factors. For some, they feel birth is natural, and therefore they do not need the high intervention rates that hospitals provide. For others, they may have other people in the family or friends who chose and out of hospital birth which ended very positively and they would like to also have that experience. Still others may have had a very negative experience in a hospital, and do not want to spend of the best days of their lives in one if they can help it.

Whatever the reason, birth centers provide many parents the safe out-of-hospital birth they are looking for. In the next few posts, I am going to be looking at one of the local birth centers near me in the Northern Virginia/DC metro area. You may discover that the setting and feel is just what you are looking for and start your cautious journey to discovering your birth location.

Or..... You could be just like my dog and a sprinkler and happily jump right in!